NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Two men guilty of armed robbery of U.S. Postal Service mail carrier were sentenced in Newport News, a release announced on April 18.

O’Sirus Ford, 21, Jayden Stukes, 21, and Da’Twan Watson pleaded guilty to the charges. Watson and Stukes were sentenced to four years in prison, and Ford awaits sentencing.

On May 9, 2023, Ford robbed a Hampton mail carrier at gunpoint for his “arrow” key, and Stukes Watson and one other were recruited to help. Ford wanted to steal a key in the Newport News/Hampton area and needed Stukes to drive him “across the water.”

The three met at Ford’s rental car that was used the previous day to rob a mail carrier in Norfolk, however, they weren’t able to use it. Instead, Stukes arranged for another friend to drive the group.

Ford, Stukes and Watson were all armed with handguns and had masks to cover their faces.

Ford and Watson exited the vehicle to hunt down the mailman on foot while Stukes remained in the car with his friend and communicated with Ford using social media to help him find the USPS target.

Watson and Ford found the victim on Galax Street in Hampton. Only Ford was armed at the time, but both he and Watson were fully masked as Watson approached from the side, a release states.

Ford showed the victim the gun and told him to “Give me your keys or I’m gonna shoot you,” a release states. He repeated himself before counting down from five.

The victim gave Ford his USPS arrow key, and Ford and Watson fled, meeting up with Stukes and the driver in an apartment complex nearby before she drove the group back across the water.

The three men were also connected to a separate similar conspiracy case.

O’Sirus Ford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence. Ford is currently scheduled to be sentenced May 2.

Stukes and Watson pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting. The two were sentenced to serve four years on April 17 and 18, respectively.